While Texans can agree that preventing gun violence on college campuses should be a priority, the means of going about it is where they differ. While some believe that removing guns all together would help, others believe in the less intuitive approach of increasing the number of guns on campus to combat the inevitable violence.
In other words, if there are always going to be some ticking time bombs out there, let the un-crazy people have guns to protect themselves in the event that the wick finally runs down. It’s a little Wild Wild West.
Texas Rep. Joe Driver, Rep-Garland has introduced a bill that is giving a say to those who subscribe to these notions. It would allow students to carry guns on college campuses.
Last Monday in a hearing the House listened to testimony long into the night, from campus police, school administrators and advocacy organizations. Seventy of 150 House members have signed on in support of Drivers' bill
Marsha McCartney, head of the Brady Campaign Texas Chapter, testified against the bill at the hearing.
“The people that are against it I think are the people that should be listened to, because those are the colleges and law enforcements, and they’re all against this bill,” she said.
She was surprised that the House even introduced the bill, describing how similar attempts had failed in 17 states, because “those states listened to the colleges and universities.”
She also noted that the Air Force Academy and West Point don’t allow as much as a sling shot on campus.
